Jump directly to the Content

Worship with Muslims and Jews?

Bob Roberts calls for more interfaith dialogue without minimizing our Christian beliefs.

The pastor who coined the word "glocal" to describe his church's approach to missions has led his Texas congregation to visit new territories: the synagogue and mosque down the street. In January, NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, worshipped with Temple Shalom of Dallas and the Islamic Center of Irving in three services that highlighted the differences and similarities among the religions.

"The basis of coming together is not to minimize our beliefs but to hold onto our beliefs and make clear our beliefs," Pastor Bob Roberts said. "But also it's to say that the best of our beliefs calls us to get along with one another."

After members of the three groups each visited the others' worship services, Roberts and the leaders of the Jewish and Muslim congregations answered questions about their faiths.

Roberts, whose church has been described as "sort of Baptist," expected criticism for the interfaith dialogue.

"The old conversation of interfaith basically said if we all agree on everything, then ...

July/August
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
This is My Low-Carb Body, Broken for You
This is My Low-Carb Body, Broken for You
Is the communion table becoming more about personal preference than church unity?
From the Magazine
The Church Outside Serving the Church Inside
The Church Outside Serving the Church Inside
Reading Philippians from Paul’s prison context should encourage the church to care better for the incarcerated.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close